Focal-plane shutter.



No. 650,787. Patented May 29, I900. J. S. WRIGHT &. C. SpGOODING.

FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER.

(Application filed. Au 21, 1599.

4 Sheets$heet l.

(Np Model.)

' THE nonms FETERS co, Puo'mumn, waiumciruu. n. c.

No. 650,787. Patented May 29, I900.

J. S. WRIGHT 8:. C. S. GOUDING.

FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 1899.)

(No Modal.) 4Sheets$haet 2.- 4

a 16 1 f 11 1 0 F J 4 1 I No. 650,787. Patented May 29, I900.

Jjs. WRIGHT & c. s. eoonms. FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

,, qv w W M W. V *"I ,ilil 11 If y if 7 T NE Norms vm'zns co. PHQTQ-LITHO WASNINGTDN, u. c

No. 650,787 Patehted May 29 1900.

J. s. WRIGHT & c. s. aoonme. FUCALHPLANE SHUTTER.

(Application filed. Aug. 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4..

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo UNITED S ATES PATENT Ger-non.

ions s'raA'r'ron warerir, or DUXBURY, Ann oriAeLnis eooome, oi BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOCAL-PLANE Si-IUTiE.

srncrrrcnrron forming part of Letters Patent as. 656,787, re ivray 29, 1966'.

Application filed August 21, 1899.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN STnArTo WRIGHT, residing at Duxbury, in the county of Plymouth, and CHARLES S. GOODING, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Focal-Plane Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a focal-plane shutter for cameras which may be used either for instantaneous or time exposures and which may be manipulated to take an instantaneous picture when the curtain is movingin either direction, up or down.

The invention consists in the improved means for varying the widtli of the slot or opening in the curtain.

The invention further consists in the mechanism for locking the curtain to and unlock ing said curtain from its spring-actuating mechanism and for applying a reversible spring-actuating mechanism thereto.

The invention still further consists in mechanism for varying the speed of travel of the curtain.

The invention again consists in mean whereby the spring-actuating mechanism maybe entirely disconnected from the curtain and the curtain arranged so that the camera may be used for time exposures.

The invention further consists in certain combinations and arrangements of parts, as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Our improved focal-plane shutter may be attached to different stylesof cameras, and in another application, filed August 19, 1899, Serial No. 727,858, we have illustrated and described the same attached to a camera of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a camera with our improved focal-plane shutter attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a detail front elevation of a portion of the curtain, illustrating the means for varying the width of the slot in said curtain. Fig. at

is an enlarged detail view of said slot-varying mechanism. Fig. 5 is adetail side elevation of a portion of the mechanism where- Serial No. 728;026. (N0 model.)

by the curtain may be disconnected from the spring-actuating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of one of the curtainroll tubes. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the shutter set for a time exposure. Figs. 8 and 9 are detailviews of the cur tain-roll-actuating wires. Fig. 10 is a detail section, line 10 10, Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a detai section, line 11, Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a section line 12 12, Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the shutter-curtain. Like numerals and letters refer to like parts throu'ghoiitthe several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 1 is acarriera box or case.

2 is a magazine for out plates or filmslike that particularly shown and described inan application of even date herewith, Serial No; 7 27 ,858. g g

3 3 are wooden rolls, to which is attached the curtain 4. The rolls 3 are madeof wood and are connected to a tube 5 by a cross-pin 6. Said cross-pin 6 is fast to a sleeve 7, whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tube 5. The tube 5 has a bearin g for a portion of its length in the sleeve 7 and is notched at 8 to receive the cross-pin 6. The sleeve 7 passes through the side of the camera-case 1 and turns in a plate 9, screwed to said case. A U-shaped handle 10 is pivoted to the sleeve 7 bya pin 11. The ends 12 of said handle 10 extend beyond the center of the sleeve 7, so that by turning said handle to a position at right angles to that shown in the drawings, Fig. 5, the sleeve 7 and crosspin 6 will be drawn to the right, Fig. 2, and the cross-pin 6 will move out of the notches 8, and the sleeve 7 and tube 5 will be disconnected from each other, the rolls 3 being slotted at 13 to allow the pin 6 to move longitudinally,as described. It Will thus be seen that when the handle 10 is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the sleeve 7, tube 5, and roll 3 will all rotate together; but when the handle 10 is turned at right angles to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, as in Fig. 7, the sleeve 7 and roll 3 may be rotated by means of said handle, while the tube 5 remains stationary. The cross-pin 6 is drawn into the notches 8 8 in the tube 5 by a spiral tensioivspring 14:, one end of which is connected by a hook 15 to the cross-pin 6 and the other end by a hook 16 to a plug 17, said plug having a flange 18 thereon.

The tubes 5 5 are connected together by two wires 19 20, each wire being fastened to said tubes in such a manner that when the wire 19 is coiled several times around the lower tube 5 the other end of said wire 19 will be nearly uncoiled from the upper tube 5, Fig. 8, whereas the wire 20 will at the same time be coiled several times around the upper tube 5 and nearly uncoiled from the lower tube 5, Fig. 9, and vice versa.

Said pins engage slots 23 23 in the forked piece 21, said forked piece forming a part of a spring-lever 25, in which the spring-wire 26 is fastened to said forked piece 2 1- and passes through a hole in the rocking pin 27. Said pin rocks in bearings in the bracket 28, fast to the case 1. The bracket 28 is formed of two plates 29 30, fastened together by studs 31. The spring-wire 26 is held at the end opposite to the forked piece 21 by hooks 32, fast and 58 each terminate in a coil 62 and 63, re-

to a segmental plate 33, fast to the case 1.

It will be seen that by placing the springwire in different hooks on the upper side of the center line a a, Fig. 1, the tension upon the spring may be varied and the block 21 forced down against the stop 34, fast to the case 1, as in the drawings. If itis desired to set the curtain to move downwardly, Fig. 1, the wire 26 is carried over at its right-hand end, Fig. 1, to the lower side of the center line a a and hooked into one of the hooks 32 on the lower side of said line a a. This will bend the spring 26 and cause it to press up wardly upon the block 21.

The block 21, wires 19 and 20, and the parts connected thereto are locked in position by blocks 35 and 30, fast to the wire 19. The block 35 is shown locking said parts in the drawings, said block being located between two ears 37 37 on the locking-plate 38, said plate being fastened to the case 1. The block 35 is thrown out from between the cars 37 and the spring-lever 25 allowed to act by the bulb 39, said bulb connecting by a tube 40 to the ordinary pneumatic bulb held in the hand of the operator. \Vhen the bulb 39 is distended by pressing the bulb in the hand, it raises a lever 11, pivoted at 12 to a bracket 13, fast to the casing 1. This throws the block 05 out from between the cars 37, and the spring-lever 25 throws the block 21 and wire 19 upward until the block 35 strikes the stop 1-1, when the block 36 will be opposite the space between the cars 37, and the lever 1-1 having been drawn down by the spring the block 36 will dop in between the ears 37,1ocking the wire 19 and its connecting parts.

In order to graduate the speed of the curtain for instantaneous work, we provide a pneumatic cylinder 16, pivoted at 17 toa plate 18, fast to the casing 1, and having a doubleacting piston therein fast to a piston-rod -10. Said piston-rod 19 is pivotally connected to a forked arm 50, said arm passing through a To the wire 1 9 is fastoned ablock 21, with pins 22 22 thereon,

hole in the rocking pin 27 and being clamped thereto by a set-nut 51. The arm has graduations 52 thereon, so that the arm 50 may be set at different points with relation to the center of the rocking pin 27, and thus the distance through which the end of the arm 50 moves may be varied, and hence the travel of the piston and piston-rod in the cylinder 40 will be varied, compressing the air more or less and varying the speed at which the curtain is carried by the spring-lever 25 through the intermediate connections hereinbefore explained.

The curtain at consists of two sheets of cloth 53 and 54-, Fig. 13, joined together by chains 55 55, said chainsbeingjoined together by wires 56, 57, and 58, Fig. 3. The wire 50 is inclosed in a tube 59, inclosed by a hem in the end of sheet 54., and the wires 57 and 58 are inclosed in a tube 60, inclosed by a hem in the end of the sheet 53.

In order to vary the width of the opening 61 between the sheets 53 and 51, the wires 57 spectively. The coil 62 is formed to fit the wire 58, which passes through said coil 62, and the coil 63 is formed to fit the wire 57, which passes through said coil 63. The tube is slotted'at 64, so that the coils G2 and 63 can be moved apart or together, thus diminishing or increasing, of the slot 61.

It is evident that the wire 56 may be dis pensed with and the chain 55 made continuous from the wire 57 to the wire 58. The sheet 53 is fastened at one end directly to the upp r roll 3, whilethe sheet 51 is connected to the lower roll 3 by two strips 65' 65, the ends of which are fastened to said lower roll.

When it is desired to give a time exposure, the rolls 3 3 are disconnected from the tubes 5 5 by turning the U-shaped handles 10 10 at right angles to the position shown in the drawing Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 7 and then rotating the handle 011 the upper roll 3 until the sheets 53 and 51 are coiled upon the upper roll 3, leaving the upper and lower rolls connected by the narrow strips 65 65, as shown in Fig. '7, and the negative is then exposed for the desired length of time by removing a cap from the lens.

The operation of the device as a whole is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the slide 66, of the ordinary well-known construction, is withdrawn from IIC the camera and the right-hand end of the spring-lever 25 is removed from the hook 32 on the upper side of the line a a, carried down below said line, and placed under one of the hooks 32 on the lower side of the line a a. The arm 50 is set for the graduation corre sponding to the speed of curtain. desired and the bulb in the hand pressed, thus distending the bulb 39, raising the lever-.t1, and free ing the block. 35 from the ears 37. The wire 19 and the parts connected thereto are then carried upward by the reaction of the springlever 25 until the block 35 strikes the stop 44, and the block 36 drops in between the cars 37, it being evident that as the wire 19 moves up, the wire 20 and the curtain 4 will move down, the slot 61 passing across the exposed face of the negative or cut plate at a speed depending upon the regulation of the speed herein described and also upon the tension of the wire spring 26, said tension varying according to the distance of the hook 32, under which said wire is placed, from the line a a. To reverse the motion of the cur tain, the right-hand end of the spring 25 is carried above the line (1 Ct, and the operation hereinbefore-described is repeated.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, and actuating mechanism forimparting motion to said curtain in opposite directions, in combination with means for locking said actuating mechanism.

2. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted cur tain, and actuating mechanism for imparting motion to said curtain in opposite directions, in combination with means for locking said actuating mechanism and mechanism for releasing said actuating mechanism.

3. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, and actuating mechanism for imparting motion to said curtain in opposite directions, in combination with means for disconnecting said actuating mechanism from said curtain.

4. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, and actuating mechanism for imparting motion to said curtain in opposite directions, in combination with mechanism for regulatin g the rate of speed imparted to said curtain by said actuating mechanism.

5. A curtain for focal-plane shutters, consisting of two sheets joined together by a chain 55, the ends of said chain joined by wires 57, 58, having coils 62, 63 respectively formed thereon, said wire 57 passing through said coil 63, and said wire 58 passing through said coil 62, substantially as described.

6. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, a pair of rotatory rolls attached thereto, said rolls connected to each other by a pair of wires, independently fastened to said rolls, in combination with mechanism for imparting a motion to said wires in opposite directions.

7. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, a pair of rotatory rolls attached thereto, said rolls connected to each other by a pair of wires, independently fastened to said rolls, in combination with a spring-lever 25, one end connected to one of said wires,and means for setting said spring-lever.

8. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, a pair of rotatory rolls attached thereto, said rolls connected to eachother by a pair of wires, independently fastened to said rolls,

in combination with a spring-lever 25, one end connected to one of said wires, and means for setting said spring-lever, so that When released it shall react in opposite directions.

9. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, a pair of rotatory rolls attached thereto, said rolls connected to each other by a pair of wires, independently fastened to said rolls, mechanism for impartinga reciprocatingmotion to said wires, in combination with blocks 35, 36 fast to one of said wires, stops 34, 44, and a locking-plate 38, substantially as described.

10. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, a pair of rotatory rolls attached thereto, said rolls connected to each other by a pair of wires independently fastened to said rolls, mechanism for imparting a reciprocating mo-= tion to said wires, in combination with blocks 35, 36 fast to one of said wires, stops 34, 44, a locking-plate 38, and means for releasing said blocks from said locking-plate, substan tially as described.

11. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted curtain, a pair of rotary rolls attached thereto, said rolls connected to each other by a pair of Wires independently fastened to said rolls, a spring-lever 25 and rocking pin 27; in combination with a pneumatic cylinder, piston and pistonrod, said piston-rod being adjustably connected to said rocking pin by an arm 50, substantially as described.

12. In a focal-plane shutter, a slotted cur' tain, a pair of rotatory rolls attached to said curtain, said rolls connected to each other by a pair of wires independently attached to said rolls, and mechanism whereby said rolls may be connected to or disconnected from said wires.

13. In a focal-plane shutter, a curtain-roll, having a notched tube centrally located therein, a sleeve 7 connected. to said roll by a cross-pin, and a U shaped handle pivotally connected to said sleeve, said roll being slotted to allow said sleeve and cross-pin to move longitudinally therein, substantially as described.

14. In a focal-plane shutter, a curtain-roll,- having a notched tube centrally located therein, a sleeve 7 connected to said roll by, a cross-pin, a U shaped handle pivotally connected to said sleeve, said roll being slotted to allow said sleeve to move longitudinally therein, and a spring so arranged as to J OI'IN STRATTON WRIGHT. CHARLES S. GQODING.

Witnesses:

II. E. CILLnv, SYDNEY E. TAF'r.

too 

